Georgia, Oregon, Idaho and Kentucky primaries 2024: Tough night for progressives

In the Multnomah County District Attorney race, incumbent Mike Schmidt is trailing challenger Nathan Vasquez, 42 percent to 58 percent, with about half the expected votes reporting, according to the New York Times. Multnomah County is the most populous county in Oregon, and includes the city of Portland.

In an April survey, Portland area residents told DHM Research/The Oregonian that the two biggest concerns in their area were homelessness (53 percent) and crime (20 percent), two issues where the DA might make a difference. Respondents were particularly supportive of cracking down on homeless encampments: 63 percent said that "local governments should be allowed to ban people from camping in public spaces and fine or arrest anyone who refuses to leave," while just 27 percent disagreed.

Vasquez has blamed Schmidt and his policies for the rise in homelessness, drug use and crime in the area. And it looks like that approach may be working for him. He's off to a solid lead, and as this is a nonpartisan election, whoever wins tonight will take over the office.

—Mary Radcliffe, 538

Further down the ballot, Oregon voters also selected their party nominees for secretary of state and attorney general. Just a few minutes after polls closed (shoutout vote-by-mail!), ABC News reported that state Treasurer Tobias Read is projected to win the Democratic primary for secretary of state, the state's second-highest office. Read, who currently leads with 71 percent of the vote, had the establishment support and fundraising lead over state Sen. James Manning, who is in second place with 20 percent.

In April, Bolts Magazine wrote about this race as a test for different views on democracy and voting rights: Manning campaigned on a more progressive vision, including allowing incarcerated people to vote, while Read said he would prioritize fine-tuning the state's existing systems, including universal mail voting.

Oregon tends to elect Democrats statewide, so Read is probably the favorite to win in November over state Sen. Dennis Linthicum, the far-right Republican nominee who campaigned on ending vote-by-mail and was barred from running for reelection in the state Senate after he and other Republican lawmakers participated in a six-week quorum-denying protest over issues abortion, gun control and transgender health care.

ABC News also reports that state Rep. Dan Rayfield, who was state House Speaker for two years, is projected to be the Democratic nominee for attorney general. He'll face former prosecutor Will Lathrop in November in a race to succeed outgoing Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, who is stepping down after 12 years in office.

—Irena Li, 538

Well, that wasn't as interesting as we expected. ABC News is reporting that state Rep. Maxine Dexter is projected to win the Democratic primary in Oregon's solidly blue 3rd District. With 45 percent of the expected vote reporting, Dexter leads Jayapal 53 percent to 25 percent. This result prevents some history: Had Jayapal won this race and gone on to win the general election, she and her sister Pramila Jayapal (a representative from Washington state) would've been the first sisters to serve in Congress at the same time while representing different states. In November, Dexter will almost certainly win the general election and succeed retiring Rep. Earl Blumenauer in the Portland-based seat.

—Geoffrey Skelley, 538

We've got a little bit of the vote counted counted in Idaho's 1st District, and GOP Rep. Mike Simpson is in command with 58 percent of the vote, a 25-point lead over challenger Scott Cleveland, per the AP. Simpson beat back a stronger primary opponent last cycle and looks like he'll be back again next year.

—Jacob Rubashkin, Inside Elections